Fire-extinguisher.



` No. 778,439. PATENTED DBG. 27, 1904.

A. G. BATTELLE.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLIOATION FILED APB.. 10, 1903.

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m, IIIV UN ITI-:n STATES- Patenzea Deeember 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE..

AIIIIIIII'I (I. II.\'I"I`ICI.I.IC Ul" CIIIIMIU, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-,EXTINGUISHEFL SPECIFICATION forming pm ef Lettere Patent 110.779,439, d eted December 27, 1904.'

Application filed iprl 10, 1903. Burial No. 151,973.

`citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county ol' Cook, Stute of Illinois, have invented u certain new and useful Improvement in Fire-Extinguishers; and I declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description ot' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in tln` art to which it pertains to make struction, comparatively inexpensive in manufacture, and elIicient in operation.

, My invention, generally described, consists in a vessel which contains a powdered chemical directly subjected to the pressure of air or gas conlined in the vessel and means for controlling a discharge-opening leading from the interior to the exterior of the vessel, through which the powdered chemical is expelled lby the force of the air or gas confined 'under pressure in the vessel.

l My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated yas `embodied in two convenient v and practical forms, and in which- Figure 1 1s a vertical central section through one speciiic form of the invention, and Fig. 2

a similar'view of a modified form of the invention. f v

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, A indicates a vessel, preferably of tubular form, with closed ends. The vessel may be madeofL any material capable of withstanding an interior pressure vof the requisite degree. a indicates an ornamental sleeve surrounding the vessel. Extending through an orifice in the lower end Al of the vessel is a valve-casing D, with the'interior of which communicates a disclnuge-tnhc 1). An cxtcrorly-screwthreaded end 1)' engagesthe surrounding snr- Iace ol' the orlice in the end of the vessel, theshoulder 4l serving to limit the inward movement of the screw-tlueaded end l. A valvestem Flextends through the valve-casing I) and supports at the end thereof` which extends within the vessel a valve F', adapted to seat against the end I) of the valve-casing. The opposite end of the valve-stern extends through the valve-casing and carries a valve F, adapted to engage a seat D2 on the end of the valve-casing when the rod is reciprocated toward the cylinder to unseat the valve F'. A lever E is fulcrumcd at one end upon a lug (l on thc valve-casing and engages the valve F. '.Ihe end u of the level' projects through a slot g in a cap (I, which engages the exterior surface at the lower end of the vessel and incloses the valve mechanism. A nozzle d is supported upon the end ofl the discharge-tube D and extends through an opening g3 in the cap (Jr. An inwardly-opening valve 71 located within the casing H, is shown at the upper end of the vessel, the casing extending through and supported in the-end wall thereof. H indicates a cap supported upon the exterior end of the valve-casing H to protect the valve 7L. Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the vessel in the position shown in Fig. 1,

such, for instance, as a ring J. In order to The valve-casing is then screwed into the end 9 of the vessel and the joint hermetically sealed, after which the vessel is charged with air or gas to the requisite degree of pressure. The air or gas may be charged by coupling to the screw-threaded end of the discharge-tube D3 l n l with any other source ol compressed air or 'lhe vessel may alsoiimzhargcd with the gas by coupling a conduit to the extegas. air or ing ll of the valve li. with the fluid-pressure through the valve the latter is then hermetically sealed by solder or otherwise. After the powdered ehemical has been placed in the/vessel and the latterchai'ged with compressed air or gas the cap (i is inserted over the valve mechanism, so as to entirely conceal the latter except the projecting end fI of the valve-lever and the nozzle d, which is screwed onto the end of the discharge-tube D" and projects through the opening y after the cap has been placed ai-und the valve mechanism and in engageir nt with the end of the vessel. lhe charged vessel is then ready for use and is preferably hung from a support by means of the ring J or a similar device. When a fire occurs and it is desired to use the extinguisher, it is removed from its su pport and the nozzle pointed toward the flames, after which the lever is pressed upwardly, so as to unseat the valve F, thereby permitting the powdered chem- -ical to be dischargedzthrough the nozzle d. By inclosing the valve mechanism within the cap no confusion can arise as to the method of operating the extinguisher, as the ende of the lever projects through the slot g and engages the lower end thereof and can consequently only be moved upward ly-that is, in a direction to unseat the valve F'. It is obvious that when the compressed air or gas is being introduced in the vessel the lever of the valve is moved upwardly, thereby unseating the valve F and seating the valve F2 against the seat D2, thereby preventing the escape of the air or gas under pressure and insuring its passage into the vessel.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a modified embodiment of my invention in which the vessel is adapted to discharge the powdered chem ical when it is held in such a position that the valve mechanism is at the upper end thereof. The discharge of the powdered chemical is effected by means of a tu be K', extending downwardly within the vessel K to a point near the bottom thereof, it being retained therein by means of aflange la at its upper end held between the end k and a washer Z. The valvecasing L terminates in an interiorly-screwthreaded sleeve, which engages the exterior screw-threads on the upper end k of the vessel. A valve'N within the upper end of the tube'Kl seats outwardly, and thereby closes the passage-way through the tube K' to the discharge-tube N 3. The valve N is normally retained against its seat not only by the pressure in the vessel, but also by the spring n2, which surrounds the upper end of the valverod N and engages a washer N2 thereon. A

lever M is provided for unscating the valve N' through the medium of il cam m, which engages the washer N2 to depress the letter j and thereby compress tliespring n". A downi wardly-inclined nozzle nlis preferably serioil screw-threiulcd portion of the valve-caslf the vessel is charged f cured to the discharge-tube N.

ln the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig 2 the powdered chemical is iirstintroduced by removing the valve-casing L and also the tube K', after which the tube is inserted and the valve-casing screwed upon the end of the vessel. ln order to charge the vessel with compressed air or gas, it is inverted after the chemical has been introduced and a Aconduit leading from a source of fluid-pressure coupled to the discharge-tube N3. The valve N being unseated permits the fluid under pressure to pass into the vessel, charging the same to the desired degree of pressure, after which thevalve is allowed to be seated and the extinguisher is in condition foruse.

The principal difference between the two embodiments of my invention resides in the fact that in the form shown in Fig. 1 the extinguisher when in position for use is held in an upright position with the valve mechanism at the lower end thereof, while in the forin shown in Fig. 2 the operative position of the extinguisher is the reverse-namely, the valve mechanism is at the upper end thereof. he dotted lines in each figure indicate approximately the relative spaces occupied by the chemical and the compressed Huid, the space below the dotted line being filled with the chemical and that above occupied by the air or gas under pressure.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved {ire-extinguishing apparatus which is at all times ready for use and under perfect control of the operator, inasmuch as there are no parts which can get out of order during the long period which may elapsecbefore the apparatus may be required for use. It is also evident that by providingsuitable washers and packing for the valve-seats the vessel is rendered air-tight, so that no loss of pressure' can take place.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, Ido not wish to be limited thereto, as it is obvious that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention-such, for instance, as creating the requisite pressure within the vessel in other ways than by introducing air or gas under pressure, as by producing an explosion or creating a pressure by chemical reaction within the vessel when itis desired to use the extinguisher. It is also obvious that in lieu of the valve mechanism it would be feasible to seal the discharge-tube after the introduction of the air or gas under pressure, the discharge of the chemical being eilected by breaking the sealed discharge-tube.

It is to be understood that the term gas IOO IIO

the vessel to which the powder is constantlyv exposed, and means for opening a discharge from the vessel through which the powder is forced by the pressure exerted directlythereon by the gas.

2. A {ire-extinguisher comprising a vessel,

a fire-extinguishing powder contained in thev vessel, a gas under pressure confined vwithin the vessel to which the powder is constantly exposed, a valve controlling a dischargeopening from the vessel, and means for unseating the valve to permit the powder to be discharged from' the vessel by the pressure exerted directly thereon by the gas.

3. A fire-extinguisher comprising a Vessel, a fire-extinguishing powder contained in the vessel, a gas under pressure confined within the vessel to which the powder is constantly exposed, a valve controlling a discharge-openf ing from the vessel and retained upon its seat by the pressure of the gas within the vessel,

and means for unseating the valve against the pressure of the gas to permit the powder to be forced through the discharge-opening from the vessel.

4. A fire-extinguisher comprising a vessel, a fire-extinguishing powder contained in the vessel, a gas under pressure coniined within 'the vessel'to which the powder is constantly exposed, a valve controlling a discharge-opening from the vessel and retained upon its seat by the pressure of the gas within the vessel, a reciprocating rod extending into the vessel for unseating the valve, and a pivoted lever engaging the exterior end of said rod for reciprocating the same and unseating the valve to permit the discharge of the powder through the opening leading from thel vessel.

5. A tire-extinguisher comprising a vessel,

a fire-extinguishing powder contained in the Y vessel, a gas under pressure confined within the vessel to which the powder is subjected, a detachable valvecasing communicating with the interior of said vessel whereby the powder may be introduced into the vessel by removing the valve-casing, a discharge-tube communicating with the interior of the vessel through the valve-casing through which the vessel may be charged with the gas under pressure, and a valve for controlling the passage through said valve-casing to permit the discharge of the powder from the vessel by the pressure of the gas therein.

6. A tire-extinguisher comprising a vessel, a `tire-extinguishing powder contained in the vessel, a gas under pressure confined within the vessel to which the chemical is exposed, a valve-casing located on the exterior of and communicating with the interior ofl the vessel, a valve cooperating with said valve-casing, a lever forl unseating said valve, and a cap surrounding said valve-casing and supported on the end of the vessel, said lever and discharge-tube extending through apertures in said cap.

1n testimony whereof 1 sign this spccilication in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT (i. BATTELLE. Witnesses:

(ino. L. \V1LKINsoN, C. C. CUNNINGHAM. 

